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DGMO Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza reminds his Afghan counterpart that the border line runs through the villages, dividing them between the two countries, and Pakistani security forces and civilians were well within their own territory.

ISLAMABAD: Hosti­li­ties on the border near Cha­m­an ended late on Friday afternoon after a hotline conversation between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s directors general of military operations (DGMOs) during which the Afghan official admitted his side’s mistake in identifying the boundary in the area.

“Afghan director general, military operations, acknowledged that border is in between villages and not at the ditch… as being perceived by them,” an Inter-Services Public Rela­tions (ISPR) statement on the conversation between the DGMOs said. It noted that the Afghan official had agreed that the ditch was well inside Pakistani territory.

With the attack happening at a time census was under way in the two border villages targeted by artillery, it appeared as if the Afghan side wanted to disrupt the exercise. The ISPR, in its first statement on the incident, pointed out that the Afghan border police had been creating hurdles in the conduct of the census since April 30 despite having been notified about it in advance.

Frontier Corps soldiers have been accompanying the census teams in the two villages, much like other parts of the country where troops have been part of the exercise for security and enumeration duties.

An Afghan official, Zia Durrani, talking to journalists in Afghanistan, alleged that Pakistan was, on the pretext of census, undertaking “malicious activities and was provoking villagers against the (Afghan) government”.

Afghanistan appears averse to census in divided villages

The ISPR statement stres­­­sed that the Afghan DGMO was told that “we shall continue our work within our border”. This was implied as a resolve about continuation of the census in the area.

Analysts believe that the Afghan forces were averse to the people residing in those villages being identified and counted.

During the hotline talk, DGMO Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza reminded his Afghan counterpart that the border line ran through the villages, dividing them between the two countries, and Pakistani security forces and civilians were well within their own territory.

He asked the Afghan DGMO to direct his troops to stay on their own side and defuse the situation.

“Afghan DGMO agreed to take up the matter and issue necessary orders accordingly,” the ISPR said and noted that the exchange of fire had ended.

Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal said: “Ces­sation of fire and resolving (the matter) through talks had been agreed upon.”

The military officers’ conversation was followed by a ‘flag meeting’ of the local commanders near the Chaman crossing for discussion on details.

FO protest

The Afghan charge d’affaires was summoned to the Foreign Office for receiving a protest.

“We urge the Afghan government to take immediate steps to bring an end to the unprovoked firing from the Afghan side. Action should also be taken against those who are responsible for this violation,” the Foreign Office said in a statement after the Afghan diplomat’s visit.

“The Afghan charge d’affaires was conveyed that Pakistani authorities were undertaking the population census and this information had been shared with Afghan government earlier. The unprovoked firing from the Afghan side not only led to the loss of precious lives and injured many, but has also disrupted the census in areas on the Pakistan side of the border and caused damage to properties,” it added.

Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in his weekly media briefing: “The border between Afgh­anistan and Pakistan is clearly demarcated. All the locations are authenticated by maps available with the two governments. Pakistan is undertaking census in its own areas, which is our sovereign right.”

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, through a media statement, condemned the “grave incident” and underscored that “such incidents are contrary to our efforts for achieving peace and stability in the region”.

He said it was the Afghan government’s responsibility to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

On DawnNews

Comments (65) Closed

Naveed

May 06, 2017 09:17am

And we accepted this?

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Abdulla hussain

May 06, 2017 09:26am

Pakistan should penalise Afghan government for such action in haste that unnecessarily killed innocent peoples, a permanent damage to the concerned families. The border should remained sealed for long time.

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amin

May 06, 2017 09:27am

So shameful. We have no value of lives of our citizens. Despite their mistake we are staying quiet. We should have occupied the wakhan corridor as punishment.

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JKhan

May 06, 2017 09:28am

End of matter. Period. They sound like our Politicians!

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Umar

May 06, 2017 09:32am

Where is apology?

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Booza

May 06, 2017 09:36am

Seal the border

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Kashif

May 06, 2017 09:38am

Say sorry after taking precious lives...what a world we are living in?

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ali

May 06, 2017 09:43am

Afghans should use some of their common sense that mistake cannot be done for 4 hours. This country is only one in the world where who ever has power can mingle into its affairs openly. All are invited.

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paggri sambhal

May 06, 2017 09:44am

What a joke? Precious lives lost nd we are happy that these shameless nd ungrateful ppl have admitted their mistake?

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Amir

May 06, 2017 10:02am

This is very sad episode of negligence if we look into the statement.is it this simple that the Afghan security forces are not aware of the border which pass through the village.this is not true.they are well aware and as mentioned by the Afghan official in media talk their thinking is different.
The Hindustan times wrote yesterday that the Afghan security forces are given clear orders to engage them.
Losing many lives and simply saying that the divide line pass through village and now the Afghan forces will not cross over is a joke.they will not cross but their guns will destroy many more if the attitude remaining the same.

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Farjee

May 06, 2017 10:07am

Most are angry on afghans because they kill our brothers. But having a go on them will kill ordinary afghan and blocking border again affect poor.
Please understand that our enemy is using them so we need a lot bigger understanding of the situation in which they are compelled to follow our enemy.
But who is going to do it since our own corrupt pm is saving his own family..

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Akram

May 06, 2017 10:07am

Well at least the hostility and firing ended after the talk. Amazing how problems can be settled by simply talking. A lesson for our eastern neighbor.

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Nahrad Muni

May 06, 2017 10:08am

Mistake?, Excuse me..

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Rajiv

May 06, 2017 10:37am

@Akram Trust issues

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Wahid

May 06, 2017 10:47am

@Farjee appreciate your humble comment, however, I wish it was as a simple issue as you described. I would agree to a point that your enemy is using Afghans against you, it doesn't finish there. Afghanistan has governament and the people leading it are not as dumb as they will just support your enmies for the sake of helping your enemy. Please don't just listen to your government and your own media to conclude the issue. You will have a different picture when you look for realities outside of your own media and government.

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Ashraf

May 06, 2017 11:07am

This statement reminds me of the one about brotherly treatment by ours esteemed. Something does not add up

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tipu sultan

May 06, 2017 11:13am

who is responsible for lost of life. We should teach lesson both side of border. East and West.

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Shah

May 06, 2017 11:27am

No apology no compensation to bereaved families. ??? seal the border. Let Afghanis get their supplies through Chabahar.

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Sarwar, USA.

May 06, 2017 11:29am

This proves Afghans are not our brothers...

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Abdulla hussain

May 06, 2017 11:29am

@Wahid. This is not the first time or first country our coward enemy has influenced to act against Pakistan, be it in cricket or cross border firing the enemy is using substitutes to creat problems for Pakistan.

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Wajahat

May 06, 2017 11:50am

Very convenient!!

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Jitendra

May 06, 2017 12:02pm

So after killing dozens, they said - oops! My mistake. Really?

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Sajjad Khan-Sherwani

May 06, 2017 12:11pm

And that is the reason to kill ten civilians?

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Irfan

May 06, 2017 12:21pm

@Naveed You have no choice but to accept it .

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Usman

May 06, 2017 12:37pm

He didnt know where the border was!? It doesnt fit in.

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riaz

May 06, 2017 12:42pm

Sorry it was a mistake!!! What about the 12 people died and scores injured. Who is going to bear the sufferings of affected families left behind. Its a shameful act on the part of Afghan Government.

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Asim

May 06, 2017 12:45pm

Not even an apology???

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Muhammad Ather

May 06, 2017 12:50pm

@Naveed we are a peaceful nation, we accept everything.

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Sara

May 06, 2017 01:06pm

Pakistan must seal the border and send the Afghan ambassador back

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Asif A Shah

May 06, 2017 01:09pm

At the minimum, Afghanistan should pay damages for the innocent Pakistani citizens killed and injured. The money can come from the recently allocated U.S. budget for Afghanistan. There should be consequences for using Afghan firepower against completely innocent Pakistani citizens.

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samREEN

May 06, 2017 01:14pm

Very lame excuse on part of Afghanistan.. Afghan govt should stop behaving like a little child who while playing a game does not know which side he has to remain within. very sorry at the loss of precious lives

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Nav

May 06, 2017 01:37pm

Is that it, they admitted their mistake and we accepted it, sorry not impressed, so the 10 martyred have no value. What a joke Mr. DGMO you are, how come they were not neutralised, are we becoming cowards now.

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Imtiaz

May 06, 2017 01:42pm

Afghans never accept their mistakes, this is just their version.

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pakistani

May 06, 2017 01:50pm

Now we understand why trump wanted his wall

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Justwasif

May 06, 2017 01:57pm

Wow.. Wonderful... But not funny..

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Justwasif

May 06, 2017 01:59pm

After all they are our "Afghan Brothers"..

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Amin

May 06, 2017 02:13pm

@riaz they did not apologize. More like they said "a mistake has been made... and so deal with it"

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Tariq, Lahore

May 06, 2017 02:21pm

All the more reasons for a fenced border along the Durand line!

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shenanigans

May 06, 2017 02:25pm

@Nav theyll be exposed..

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naseem Ahmad

May 06, 2017 02:34pm

We should note that our Prime Minister has condemned "the grave incident", on the day that the agression happened. This is very unusal, as he has never protested in the past when India has been violating our territorial integrity.

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chipsup

May 06, 2017 03:00pm

This is not acceptable. They need to pay blood money for the causalities, take action against those responsible and provide assurances that this will not happen again. Till these steps are taken, the border should remain close and atleast 50,000 afghan refugees should be sent back daily.

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Jg

May 06, 2017 03:10pm

Who will compensate for the deaths. Just saying it was a mistake is not enough

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realist

May 06, 2017 03:17pm

The border should have a minefield, not just a simple fence.

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Saif Khan

May 06, 2017 03:22pm

@Naveed from the looks of it, yes. Seven lives were lost but all we did was that we talked with Afghans on the phone and issued a statement. Nobody got punished, as usual. Incidents like these are bound to repeat again and again.

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Raja Farhat Abbas

May 06, 2017 03:49pm

This is what happens when Spineless people are ruling us in Pakistan!!.

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Nabeel khosa

May 06, 2017 03:54pm

Work with in cooperation with Iran and Russia to remove this puppet Afghan government and bring the government that represent and work for Afghan people. This puppet government takes dictation from Washington and Delhi.

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Mahmood

May 06, 2017 03:54pm

So who is going to bring back the dead, or compensate the family of the deceased, who have been left orphaned or widowed??

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lubnakhan

May 06, 2017 03:55pm

they are deceitful and incompetent...

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Shahid

May 06, 2017 03:58pm

This is not good enough, not acceptable to people of Pakistan. The culprits should be made to pay a heavy price before any settlement.

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ABE

May 06, 2017 04:04pm

Time to fast-track the wall/fence along the border. We don't need the hospitality of our 'brothers' across the border anymore.

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Asif Kashmiri

May 06, 2017 04:20pm

Sort out these RAW backed no good afgans once and for all

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m.m amin (old ravian )

May 06, 2017 05:36pm

Why not doz down a path within such villages? Lives lost must produce a solution .And there are not many such village .Wither much touted "border management "?

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pakistani

May 06, 2017 06:12pm

Right now we are angry and crying for blood. But remember, this act was perpetrated mostly on poor civilians. And if we retaliate, poor Afghan civilians will die. Trust me, the poor on both sides are suffering hardship everyday.
We need to go after the NSA in Afghanistan who is controlled by RAW. They made this happen. Lets leave the poor civilians alone.

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JKhan

May 06, 2017 06:20pm

And DGMO accepted this regret of Afghan counterpart! What about those who lost their lives? This is ridiculous.

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Ghaznavi

May 06, 2017 06:43pm

Push 10000 afghan refugees as a reprisal

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Unbiased man

May 06, 2017 08:47pm

@Wahid What you said is accurate although lets be honest, the same thing can be said to the Indian population to a much greater extent. Pakistan isn't controlled by the media as nearly as much as them. The former Indian dipolmat M.K. Bhadrakumar put it in great words, we need more people like him in both countries.

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Zak

May 06, 2017 08:54pm

Unless we solve our internal political crisis re corruption, elections, panamagate, dharnas, etc we cannot formulate a strong and unwavering policy against trouble makers and only react to situations.

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Zak

May 06, 2017 08:56pm

@amin why start war on two fronts. India and Kashmir is the source of problems even from afghan side.

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Chaudry

May 06, 2017 09:18pm

Pakistan should not take it easy,don't trust them. Afghanistan is getting dangerous in the area now its time to involve Russia. It is the matter of their security too.
Don't open the borders ever and send all Afghani back to their country.

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Dil

May 06, 2017 09:25pm

No more muslim brotherhood hit them hard back whenever they attempt something like this again . Indian puppet needs to learn how to live with neighbors in a civilized manner .

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Ahaq

May 06, 2017 10:20pm

This should be raised at the UN. Corrupt and trigger happy Afghan government should be taken to task.

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jam

May 06, 2017 10:32pm

this is not the work of all but it belong to some official

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shahzaib

May 07, 2017 12:02am

They are not aware of land boundaries that they are supposed to protect....

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shahzaib

May 07, 2017 12:03am

Should seal the border. Better then such incidents.

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Nice guy

May 08, 2017 03:21am

And Ironic part of all this is, that 3 Million Undocumented Afghanis want to become Pakistani. And the impotent, crazy Afghan government is snatching away the wish of the Village people in the divided villages to be counted as Pakistanis. I bet, all of the villagers would rather have Pakistani Identity Card and Nationality then the Afghani Nationality. They would be able to purchase land, work, be officially counted as Citizens of Pakistan. And that is something that burned up the inept Afghani Government and its coward, ill equipped and ill trained rag tag militia.